When Microsoft first announced that the Surface RT tablet was on sale in Japan in March, it also mentioned that the Windows RT device would also be seen in the latest Ghost in the Shell anime film series Arise. While the first of four 50 minute episodes of this series is scheduled to be released in Japan later in June, Microsoft has teamed up with the film series' creators at Production I.G. to release a quick three minute original Ghost in the Shell short film.

The clip, as posted on the Surface Japan TouTube page, is set in the cyberpunk future of the acclaimed sci-fi franchise. The film, titled Another Mission, has no dialogue so don't worry about having to understand Japanese or reading subtitles.

The short film features one of the characters trying to download data from a location for some unknown purpose with the Surface. That's all we will say about the clip; it's short enough so that we don't want to give away any surprises. We will say that the Surface is not only a vital part of the mission but the optional Touch Cover gets some attention as well.

While we have seen the Surface used by characters in various television shows in the US over the past year, the Ghost in the Shell anime short may be our personal favorite in terms of product placement so far.